Clematis plant named ‘Evipo020’

ABSTRACT

A new  Clematis  cultivar which is well suited to propagation in glasshouses, with a tall growth habit, profuse, purple flowers, and continuous summer flowering. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for cultivation in commercial glasshouses. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from propagation.

Botanical classification: Genus—Clematis. Subgenus—flammula.Section—viticella.

Variety denomination: ‘Evipo020’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of Clematiswhich originated from a controlled crossing between the female seedparent, Clematis viticella ‘Venosa Violacea’, a non-patented variety,and the male parent, an un-named seedling.

The new Clematis may be distinguished from its female seed parent,‘Venosa Violacea’, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The seed parent has single flowers, while ‘Evipo020’ has        double flowers.    -   2. The seed parent has more white coloration of the tepals than        ‘Evipo020’.

The new Clematis may be distinguished from its male pollen parent by thefollowing combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The pollen parent variety has fewer tepals per flower than        ‘Evipo020’.    -   2. ‘Evipo020’ has a darker flower color than the pollen parent.

The two parents were crossed and the resulting seed was planted in acontrolled environment. The new variety is named ‘Evipo020’. Theobjective of the hybridization of this Clematis variety for commercialglasshouse and nursery culture was to create a new and distinct varietywith unique qualities that this variety has:

-   -   1. Very long flowering season;    -   2. Purple, double blooms,    -   3. Substantially improved flower longevity;    -   4. Improved continuous flowering habit.

These qualities required improvement in clematis varieties that were incommercial cultivation and the objectives have been substantiallyachieved in the new variety, as evidenced by the unique combination ofcharacteristics that are present in ‘Evipo020’ which distinguish it fromall other varieties of which we are aware.

The seeds from the aforementioned hybridization were germinated andevaluations of the resulting seedling plants were conducted in acontrolled environment. As a result, ‘Evipo020’ was selected by RaymondJ. Evison and Mogens N. Olesen in their Clematis development program inGuernsey, Channel Islands, in July 2000.

Asexual reproduction of ‘Evipo020’ by cuttings was first done by RaymondJ. Evison and Mogens N. Olesen in Domarie Vineries Les Sauvagees, St.Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom in July 2000. Thisinitial and subsequent propagations have demonstrated that thecharacteristics of ‘Evipo020’ are true to type and are transmitted fromone generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration show as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type. Specificallyillustrated in FIG. 1:

FIG. 1.1 Juvenile stem with juvenile foliage;

FIG. 1.2 Mature leaves attached to stem;

FIG. 1.3 Flower at ¼ opening;

FIG. 1.4 Flower bud showing attachment to peduncle and leaflets;

FIG. 1.5 Open flower at various stages of development;

FIG. 1.6 Open flower, underside.

Specifically illustrated in FIG. 2 are open flowers attached to theplant, showing flower detail and attitude.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of ‘Evipo020’, as observed inits growth throughout the flowering period in glasshouses in ChannelIslands, United Kingdom. Observed plants were cultivated for a period of24 months in 2 liter containers. Certain phenotypical characteristics ofthe variety may vary under different environmental, cultural, agronomic,seasonal, and climatic conditions. Color references are made using TheRoyal Horticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 2001.

For a comparison, the nearest existing Clematis variety is ‘VyvyanPennell’, a non-patented variety. Chart 1 details several physicalcharacteristics of the ‘Evipo020’ and ‘Vyvyan Pennell’.

CHART 1 ‘Evipo020’ ‘Vyvyan Pennell’ Tepal Color Purple Group 79C PurpleGroup 78B After Opening Flower Diameter 80 to 90 mm 150 to 180 mmFlowering habit Continuous Recurrent

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   Blooming habit: Continuous. Flowering occurs on new growth.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—20 to 30 mm in length. Bud diameter is 12 mm on            average.        -   Bud form.—Short Ovoid.        -   Bud color.—Red-Purple Group 59A at ¼ opening.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Length.—90-120 mm average length.        -   Color.—Red-Purple Group 59A.        -   Aspect.—Horizontal.-   Receptacle: None.-   Flower arrangement:    -   -   Borne.—Flowers occur along the stem at each leaf axil, on            new growth.-   Flower bloom.    -   -   Size.—80-90 mm in diameter. Tepals themselves contribute            very little to flower depth, as they open to a flat plane.            However, flower depth is achieved by the protrusion of            reproductive parts, 25 to 30 mm on average.        -   Profile.—Upon opening, flowers are cupped. After opening            flowers are globular with sepals normally straight and            occasionally reflexing.        -   Color.—Upon opening: Upper surface is Purple Group 77A. The            reverse side is Purple Group N77D. After opening: Upper and            lower surfaces are Purple Group 79C. Intonations of White            Group N155B observed on both surfaces.        -   Variations.—As the tepals age flower color exhibits more            violet blue tones.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Lasting quality.—On the plant flowers typically remain for a            duration of 4 weeks. As a cut flower flowers typically have            a vase life of 10 days.-   Tepals:    -   -   Quantity.—There are 6 outer tepals. Flowers produce a            central dome of 100 petaloid stamens.        -   Shape.—Individual tepal shape is elliptic. Tepal base and            apecies are acute.        -   Cross section.—Flat to bi-laterally reflexed.        -   Margins.—Entire. Weak undulations observed.        -   Recurvature of tip.—Outer tepals occasionally recurved.        -   Persistence.—Outer tepals wither while inner tepals persist.        -   Arrangement.—Tepals are arranged regularly.-   Reproductive organs: None. Flowers are completely sterile.

PLANT

-   Plant form: Climbing and spreading.-   Plant growth: Average vigor. Seasons growth attains 2-3 meters in    height. Plants generally spread 1 meter when trellised.-   Hardiness: Trials to date show the variety hardy in USDA Zones 6-9.-   Stems:    -   -   Color.—Young wood: Green Group 137D. Other intonations of            Red-Purple Group 59A observed. Older wood: Greyed-Orange            Group 165C.        -   Internodes.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: 130 to 180 mm.        -   Surface texture.—Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Smooth.-   Plant foliage:    -   -   Characteristics.—Evergreen.        -   Mature leaf form.—Trifoliate. Compound leaves consist of 5            leaflets on average.        -   Compound leaf size: 115 to 250 mm in length. Width is            generally 100 to 130 mm.        -   Color.—Upper surfaces of mature leaves are Green Group 137A.            Lower surfaces are Green Group 137C. Upper surfaces of new            leaves are Green Group 137C. Lower surfaces are Green Group            137A.-   Plant leaves and leaflets:    -   -   Petiole length.—30 to 60 mm.        -   Leaflet margin.—Leaflets have margins which are entire.        -   Leaflet shape.—Base: Acute to Rounded. Apex: Acute.        -   Leaflet size.—40 mm (l)×25 mm (w).        -   Texture.—Thin.        -   Surface.—Matte Finish.-   Disease resistance: Subject to any disease that normally attacks the    species.

1. A new and distinct variety of Clematis plant named ‘Evipo020’, hereindescribed and illustrated as a distinct and novel Clematis variety dueto its abundant purple flowers with good keepability, attractive longlasting foliage and compact growth, year round flowering underglasshouse conditions, suitability for production from softwood cuttingsin pots, durable flowers and foliage which make the variety suitable fordistribution in the floral industry.